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Milan to Cinque Terre and then onto Naples by Train - Help !

I'm traveling from Milan to Cinque Terre by train and then, after a couple of days (2 or 3?), heading down to Sorrento. Again by train. Need advice on the train travel; should I go straight from MIlan to Cinque Terra or easier from La Spezia? Also, how long does the trip take approximately. Any advice as to which town to stay in etc etc. Traveling on my own so ease of hauling a suitcase around is helpful (big suitcase as joining a tour later on).

Milan direct to Monterosso - La Spezia is beyond Monterosso - get off in Monteresso and you can take shuttle trains to any of the other 4 Cinque Terre towns - then when leaving go to La Spezia on the shuttle trains and got to Pisa and then to Florence to hop high-speed trains directly to Naples.

If I were carrying around unwieldy luggage I would strongly consider going first class as IME there is a lot more space to store luggage there over an oft IME crowded 2nd class car - lots fewer folks traveling in first class - I always seem to be able to put my bag on an empty seat next to me - in 2nd class you often have to fend for space in already perhaps overcrowded overhead luggage racks - first class also has larger seats and you also get free snacks and beverages en route!

depends on the time you leave - there are a few direct Milan Centrale to Monterosso trains that take just 2 h 50 mins - but most departures demand a change of train or two and typically take 3- 3.5 hours. (schedules from www.bahn.de).

La Spezia to Naples takes about 5 hours - the quickest route is via Pisa and direct from La Spezia to Rome, going along the coast the whole way - quicker, cheaper and more scenic than the route via Florence and high-speed train though from Florence it goes direct to Naples - 5.5 hours via Florence.

Many of the trains (R trains) around CT have no class choice, it's all one class.

>>>in 2nd class you often have to fend for space in already perhaps overcrowded overhead luggage racks<<<

I've never had to fend for space. On the faster trains (AV/ES), I put my luggage behind my seat most times. I never use the overhead rack. There are storage areas at the end of the car and often mid-car in addition to the space behind the seat (will fit a 25" structured case or a 30" duffel). I suggest you take something smaller than 25".

If you end up on an IC train part of the way, seats are in compartments with luggage racks overheard. While the IC trains have a choice of class, they don't have more room (both have 6 seats in a compartment), just plusher seats.

La Spezia to Sorrento will be a very long day. The times given above are only to Naples, not Sorrento. You would have to add connection time in Naples (could be as long as 30 minutes as trains depart every 30 minutes) and travel time on to Sorrento (75 minutes).

For a several hour trip IME it is well worth the relatively litle extra money to go first class - discounted first class tickets also exist I believe and at times may not be much more than 1st class - do not dismiss first-class out of a fear you will spend hundreds of euros more - not in Italy.

I often sit in a remote part of Florence' main train station where all trains have to pass thru a narrow gauntlet and they are moving slow - I can see each 1st and 2nd class car and I will stand by my observation that 2nd class is significantly more crowded and luggage racks often appear full. Period.

If you end up on an IC train part of the way, seats are in compartments with luggage racks overheard. While the IC trains have a choice of class, they don't have more room (both have 6 seats in a compartment), just plusher seats>

the best connection involves a 4r-hr+ ride on an IC train - there will be far fewer folks in first class on that portion and you should be able to put your bags on an empty seat next to you or near you - 2nd class in my observations are often much fuller - based on hundreds of train spotting trains - there is a difference between classes on all Italian trains and especially on ICs - the many more empty seats - not all IC trains have compartments - in fact the ones I have taken have had open seating with just three seats in a row versus four seats in 2nd class.

If you end up on an IC train part of the way, seats are in compartments with luggage racks overheard.>

Well IME not all IC trains have compartments as said and on ones that do the huge difference IME is the in first class I nearly always have a whole compartment to muyself in 1st class and in 2nd class often IME many of the seats are full - a huge difference in a 4-hour train ride to me at least - compartment to myself or wedged in with others- and in the latter case luggage is harder to stow - having to life it up into racks - not easy for everyone to do - especially the typical traveler with way too heavy luggage - kybourbon is no doubt a savvy traveler who knows on trains to pack light and thus greatly lessen any problems with baggage.

When I keep saying for the average traveler I mean ones with way too big and heavy bags which are more a problem to deal with in a crowded 2nd class compartment than a usually empty first class compartment.